Walk a Kb or Two in my Moccasins- Nobody 'splained it to me like that!

Simple answers to Complex Questions and Complex Answers to Simple Questions.
In real life, I'm a Greater-Toronto (Canada) Realtor with RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd, Brokerage. I first joined RE/MAX in 1983 and was first Registered to Trade in Real Estate in Ontario in 1974.
Formerly known as "Two-Finger Ramblings of a Forensic Acuitant turned Community Synthesizer"

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

While on hold at CFRB, waiting to query Messrs Coyne & Kay yesterday, I decided to vote in the election, but will decline my referendum ballot.

I am hard pressed to image the probability that ANY measure on ANY topic would receive the approval of 60% of all valid ballots PLUS receive the approval of at least 50% of the ballots in 64 ( 59.8%) ridings of the 107 total?

So I'm not playing their stupid little "democratic deficit" appeasement game - IMHO it's impossible for this "binding referendum" to pass.

Since I'll be given 2 ballots, I'll cast the candidates one and use my option under Section 53 of Ontario's Election Act's that provides us a little-known opportunity to vote for "None of the Above" when we exercise our citizens' duty & right - an option that is not available in Federal Elections.

The Declined Ballot does not go into the Ballot box, but is counted as a purposeful choice in a distinct category. It is not deemed a "Valid" Ballot in that it does not advance any one candidate/option, but it does represent a clear decision to abstain.

[NB Other, counted, "Invalid" Ballots are those with no marks (called "Unmarked"), those with too many marks, as well as ballots with improper marks or marks that might identify the voter (all such are called "Rejected")].

In my view, the Declined Ballot is the most honourable way of expressing the "None of the Above" choice and it could never be misconstrued to be an error, or an act of rage, forgetfulness or befuddlement - it's an in-person refusal to be complicit in such a farce.

Ontarians, if this choice appeals to you, simply identify yourself to the Deputy Returning Officer, receive the ballot and then state "I decline to vote" and hand it back to the poll official who " shall immediately write the word " declined" upon the back of the ballot and preserve it to be returned to the returning officer and shall cause an entry to be made in the poll record that the elector declined to vote "